Draft rigging



Jn. 3., 1928. I 1,654,569

w. H. Yos'r DRAFT RIGGING Filed 15m53.192s s sheets-shew 1 Fna.

awo a+ 4o c; 4 LG I9 70 Az z5 n4 l n \,\7/5/ f// /UD 7p s sheets-sheet .2

" Jan. 3, 1928.

NVENT W. I-I. YOST DRAFT RIGGING Filed Nov. 5. 1923 Jan. 3,' 28.

3 Sheets-Sheet 3 me( 1G.

FIG.

4Fifi. VZ..

Fla. lo.

Patented dan, 3, H3255.

UiiliTED STATESPATENT OFFICE.

'WINFIELD EANCGGI YOST, CF MONTREAL, QUEBEC, CANADA.

Application flied November This invention relates t for railway cars and the DRAFT ,RIGGINGL o draft riggings lile to cushion the shocks and bumps due to the' relative inovenient between cars and trie ldratt strains.

VVarious types ot riggings devised have inl eluded those ei'nploying wedge mechanism' calculated to absorb the shocks and those einploying lever mechanism andthe present invention appertains particularly to a vdraft rigging embodying both lever and Wedge niechanisins.

As Will exigencies degree oit be Well understood, owing to the of car construction, only a certain coupler travel is permitted and consequently ivi-th this prescribed'travel as -the controlling factor, been experienced in devisin great diiiilzulty has a drait rigging l capable, Without undue weight and. inass ot' niateriffil7 ot absorbing the great shocks incident vto the relative inoveinent ot rolling stock, and one capable of operating in such a nianner as'to provide a comprehensive 'and all absorbing cushioning function initiated in a sinooth easy inanner and With an nninediately free and non-sticking "release action.y

ln the ordinary Wedge si l tledii'ect Wedge resistance or low velocity 7'pe ot draft rigging the car receives a converable initial shock upon movement andduring the stroke of ythe riggingV produces an uneven,'choppy L1 J: action resulting in a iolting absorption oi the shocks. and undue Wear upon the rigging and car. (ln the other hand the lever or high velocity .type ot draft rigging as'heretoiture yconsti'ucted produces what niay be termed a flash action in that the levers iinV mediateli,r respond to the avoid :initial shock but lack resistance requisite for, the

desirable in a 'draftioni n action highly rigging and asa result the shock inoveinent to the full lbody persistent cushshock absorption ceases causing damage to the draft rigging and car.

lilith the above detects in inind an object ol'V iny invention is to cio-ordinate Wedge and lever niechanisn'i .in a draft` under load a lever action is talns up thel initial shock,

" itc cushioning resistance t rigging so that 'inaugurated and subsequent y adel'ieingv set up by wedge nieclianisun brought into action bythe lever inecl'ianisni. the rriggi v 1 xV k l ng oeing charac,-

erized by rthe action ot the levers in proerring :increasing load to nisin so that a portion ci ."ts the gin 0'.

5, 1923. serial Naeraassf ging is utilized to create resisting povvery therein, thus in the tirst instance avoiding initial shock and in the second instance producing a sinoothly graduated resistance with a persistent cushioning function.

As hereinbetore stated diliiculty has been experienced in producing a draft rigging y mechanism ot 'the desired degree ot' iexi'- bility for handling initial as Well as sustained loads,` Within the prescribedv limits and Without undue Weight and inass ot inaterial and it is therefore a further object oi' my invention to produce a draftl rigging wherein the load absorbing mechanism is yindependently active on opposite sides ot the rigging whereby the separate and independently acting absorbing units produced lend themselves to a inostetlicient distribution of strain throughout the structure and avoid thev reactive eliect oit augmentation ot strain exerted at one side of the rigging by that exerted at the opposite side and the consef quent concentration oit coinbined strain upon certain points O-the rigging;

Another object is'to still further eliicientl distribute the strain sustained by the dratt rigging by an unique arrangement and division'ot the Wedge surfaces throughout each independently `active sideot thc rigse A further object ot the invent-ion, relative f to the combination of lever and `Wedge Y n'ieclianisin, isto provide av lever nfiechanisin which initially acts upon the Wedge inechaf nisindifferentially in proportionately trans- 4erring an increasing load to the Wedge vwherein z f f Fig; .l is a horizontal section of iny iin proved draft rigging with the iii-eclianisn i y lial position,` the section ,beings t .uns ifs-i rig, i;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 and showing the mechanism under compression;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section on line 3 3 Fig. l, omitting the draft bars of the car;

Fig'. l is a cross-section on line Lit-l Fig. l, omittingl the draft bars of the car; l

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the casing partly broken away to expose the interior;

Figs. 6 and 7 are perspective views of the friction member viewed in opposite directions;

. Figs. 8 and 9 are perspective views respectively showing the inner and outer surfaces of one of the wedge members;

Fig. l0 is a bottom plan view of the follower;

Figt ll is a cross-section of the follower on line 11m-1l, l0;

Fig. l2 is a plan view of the centrallever; and

Fig. 123 is a plan view of 'the outer lever.

Referring new to the drawings, 2 indicates the side sills of a railway car which carry the draft lugs ariangedat 3 as usual in opposed pairs on opposite sills and spaced longitudinally of the car.

My improved draft rigging, disposed between the opposed pairs of draft lugs, comprises an outer abutment member l, an inner friction member 5, a wedge member (i intermediate theinembers e and 5 and lever mechanism 7 interposed between the wedge and friction members and a follower 8, the operative association of these members being influenced by coiled spring 9 (partly shown in dotted lines) and tie bolts l0 and the assembly embraced by the yoke-like draw bar 10ft g The opposing` surfaces of friction ineinber 5 and wedge member G are in plane fric` tional relation while the opposing surfaces -of members 4. and 6 respectively, present correspondingly inclined surfaces acting to translate a longitudinal relative movement of these members into an inwardly or trans- Averse movement of the wedge member against the inner friction member.

The lever mechanism 7, bears between .the 1 follower and the absorbing mechanism which includes the friction and wedge menibers, the lever mechanism fulcruming upon the wedge member so that when the follou'-, er moves under the impulse of the draw bar A the lever mechanism first moves the wedge member longitudinally with a consequent transverse movement into frictionalengagenient with the inner friction member, the retardation of thewvedge member due to its engagement withthe friction member cans. ing the lever mechanism to swing and exert a leverage upon saidrfriction member to move the latter longitudinally against the transverse pressure of the wedge member. Continued inward movement of the follower causes the lever mechanism to force the friction member longitudinally inwardly against the spring and transverse pressure of the wedge member, the lever bearing point sive stresses, the cushioning action beingl` smooth and competently absorbing throughout asthe lever action is timely effective to take up sharp initial butling shock while the proportionately increasing frictional action builds up capably sustaining resistance.

By reference to Figs. l and 5 it will be seen that the abutment member l is preferably made in the form of a rectangular 'casing abutting at one closed end against one set of draft lugs and extending forwardly therefrom to a point spacedV from the other set of lugs against which latter the follower 8 labuts in the normal released position of the rigging. The follower opposes an open end of the casing and centrally within the casing is the friction member 5 consisting of plates of less length than and disposed towards the sides of the casing in longitudinal line therewith anda oining web ll at the forward ends of the plates, the spring 9 bearing between the inner side of the web and the closed end of the casing.

A'loating wedge plate 6 is disposed parallel to and between each friction plate and the adJacent .side of the casing, the opposing surfaces of the friction and wedge plates f presenting plane frietional areas, said areas being formed to present co-acting longitudinal concavities and convexities l2 to pie-- vent lateral displacement and maintain the members in proper longitudinal alignment with themselves and the casing and so en-v sure efficient and precise frictional engagement.V ln the preferred forni the positioning formation is secured by transversely inelining the opposing frictional surfaces as seen particularly in Figs. l, 6 and 8.

The opposing surfaces of wedge plates 6 and casing 4l are formed Vwith transverse ribs 13 and le respectively, with opposed inclined wedge surfaces l5 facing longitudinally of the casing, being inclined inwardly. away from the open lend of the latter. ln the preferred form there is a series ot the lugs spaced longitudinally at each side of their respective carrying member, the lugs being spaced longitudinally and of sub-- stantially frusto-conical form in cross-sec-` tion, In assembling the side wedge plates are disposed so that their outer ends are spaced from the open end of the casing, the lugs of the plates interdigitating with the lugs of the casing as shown in Fig'. 1, the in-v ner end of each wedge plate being inclined from side to side at 16 to co-operate with a corresponding wedge incline 17 extending from side to side of the casing. 'ihe tie bolts `extend loosely centrally between'the lugs located at opposite sides ,ot the members', the forward ends of the bolts being secured to the follower and the inner ends of the bolts, after passing loosely through accoinmodating openings 18 in wedge iiicliiies 16 and 17, are provided with nuts 19, spaces 2O being provided at the rear of the wedge inclines 17 of the casing to accommodate the necessary rearward movement of the rear ends of the bolts in the movement of the follower.

The just described arrangement of wedge surfaces7 spreading saine in distinct units throughout the surface of the wedge menibers so distributes the strain sustained thereby as to secure the maximum wedging force without undue localization of stress at any one point thus enabling the members utilized to be constructed with a minimum Weight and mass and thereby facilitating the production of an efficient rigging within the prescribed compass alloted to such rigging. ln furtherance ofvtliis purpose the lugs 13 at each side of the wedge plates are joined by a longitudinal rib 21 which, with the lugs, constitute strengthening ribs for the plates and in like manner, with respect to the casing, the reinforcing effect of the separated lugs 15 is supplemented `by the side to side wedge incline 17'and the bolstering' support these inclines receive' from the ribs 211 produced in the formation on theA casing of the accommodating spaces 20 lfor the travel of the tie bolts. yllhe inclination Yof the wedge-surfaces should be such. that llie longitudinal reaction of the wedge meinbers will not overcoi'ne thelv bearing force of the levers. y

,il s hercinbef ore .mentioned the lever mechanisi'n is 'located between the friction' and weV c members and the follower` andconsists olalfcentral lever 7 extendinginwardly from oncsideof the casing with flanking levers 2:12 efzlex'iding inwardly lronij tli'eopposite side of the casing, each of these levers, bearii at one. the outer endl upon the forward cud ol" one of the wedge iiienibers between which andan iiitnrned flange 241 upon the open end of thecasing` thisend of the lever islocatcd. lilachflever has a curved outer surface bearing against the follower with' the opposite surface convened at 2li and bearing upon the outer surface of the web 11 of the friction member,v the levers being adapted to fulcruiii upon their outer ends 'and through the medium of their coin/erred surfaces 2.5 causing their bearing point upon the central friction member to shift willi respect to the Vl'ulcruni points as the friction member nieves thus eliecting' :i

ldiilci'enl'ial leverage.

pleineiited in the latter function by webs 30 extending .inwardly from lthe followery rbetween the levers. The side levers 22 may be inade separate but for simplicity I preferfto join them 'at their outer ends by a` cross-niece 31 recessed at 32 for the accoininodatioii of the tie bolt 10 which is likewise acconin'iodated by a similar recess 320 in the lever 7.

The radins' on which the curvature of theV recesses is described is, sliglitlyrgreater than that on which the curved surfaces 25 of the levers-are descril'ied. for the accommodation of the transverse shifting of the levers duif ing the dillei'ential action thereof7 thus avoiding the likelihood of the levers binding 'or soir/.ing iii the recesses and promoting a Thefree substantially unretarded action. levers` areniaintained and guided in operative 'position at their inner overlapping ends by the recesses and webs above described, the outer ends'of the levers being rounded at l0 to' always present aiiV operative bearingsurface forl the levers upon the ends of the wedge members throughout the swinging inoveinent of the levers in the operati-vene tion thereof. ml

the underside to intimately overhang tlie rounded ends of tlielevers and serve as re aining any tendency stricting elements re of the' lever ends lo withdrawfrom operav tive L'clali ni \\iilli the side wedge in'cnibei's. v

ln this manner vthe levers 4are adequately .maintainedin operative ifi'osition, the curved l nent llicreot with the follower and enabling` the levers to autoinatiw cally adjust themselves to maintain operative conta t with their associated members and compensate for 'cv'cntuz'il wear between the inenibei which `would otherwise create lost inolioiil interii''erence withy the effective action of the rigging. I

During'tlie operation of the riggii'ig` under bu'lling stresses and willi-themoving parts held by the spring in propercontacting rel lation, see Fig. 1,- the draw bar A will inove the follower 8 inwardly and cause a slight bodil'ymovement of the levers to'initiate a longitudinal. movement of the ,side wedges one wedge being moved by the lever 7 and the other wedge inoved by the connected leversl the signing rmean.vliilae retardinef movement the-central friction member.

ine flanges la are curve'doii f nio` 4L Learntec ybeing thus carried into positive frictional engagement with one of the friction plates 5. As the movement of the side wedges relatively small prior to their engagement with they friction platos the levers are early held from Vfurther bodily movement, the inwardly moving follower then causing the levers to operate as levers swinging on their fulorum ends 23 and liearing upon the central friction member composed of the platesI 5 and web il thus forcing the friction member into the casing between the side wedges and compressing the spring, the wedge plates at all times bearing with increasing pressure upon the central friction member proportionately the pressure exerted upon the levers by the follower andthe leverage produced by the levers. The central frictionv member will travel independently of and in the same direction as the side wedges, this unique arrangen'iein o f the co-operating parts being of especial benefit in that the reaction of the spring upon the central friction member in initially retarding move ment of such member creates a speedy fric-- tional contact therewith by the side wedge members thus initiating the shock absorp tion immediately upon movement of the draw bar and thereby avoiding free or lost motion of the draw bar, to the end that the full extent of draw bar movement is utilized to obtain a long cushioning or absorbing action.

As the levers swing upon their outer or fulcrum ends the convex faces 2S thereof `will cause a shifting of the lever bearing points upon the central friction member', the bearing points moving inwardly away from the fulcrum 'ends of the levers and effecting a differential action producing increasing leverage with progressing movement of the friction member into the casing. During the action the lcentral friction member will travel angreater distance than the coupler travel so that the frictional resistance set up. by and through this movement effects a persistent absorption of the shock irrespectiverof the spring resistance as the absorption is due to the frictional resistance set up by and between the members when the latter are moved by the coupler or draw bar. The

convex surfaces 26 of the levers each ter-' minate in a flat portion which engages the ycentral friction member towards the conclusion ofthe compressive action of the draft rigging, engagement of these flat surfaces with the friction member eliminating the differential action of the levers which then operate as simple levers for the stabilizing effect to be secured lfrom the yuse of such levers. ow'ever should. a :torce be tered greater than the absorbing capacity of the draft rigging the over force causes the follower to engage the open end of thecasing whereby the strain is `taken up by the car through the casing direct, t-he working members of the rigging being then inside the casing and thus a solid compression of the spring is voided and the working parts.

generally protected from the over strain, see F ig. 2. The presence of the flanges 24 increases the bearing presented atthe open end of the casing 1land serves to reinforce the latter.

As soon as the compressive force ceases the pressure upon the levers and wedgesis,

at Zero andthe binding friction grip between the side wedge members and central member 5 discontinued. At this time'the compressed spring reacts against 'theicentral member 5 moving the latterjlongitudinally towards the open end of the casing and carrying the levers with' 1t slightly away from their engagement at their outerV ends with the side wedge members. The liractically instantaneous `cessation of the binding frictional grip between the side wedge members and the central member and the separation of the levers froml the side wedge members reverses this Previously' active wedge combination into a freer relationship precluding sticking, the progression of the longitudinal movement of the central friction member under the urge of the spring influencing the side wedge members, now relieved from restraint of lever engagement therewith, to'slide back over their inclined wedge areas to their normal free floating disposition. rlhe removal of the gripping binding action between the` parts at the initiation of the release movement prevents a sticking adherence between the releasing membersto the end that such i members are their active wedging engagement without the jumpy irregular action heretofore present in draft riggings of prior constructions. Duringl the final releasing travel of the inner member 5 the levers are carried thereby so that their outer ends engage the overhanging flanges 24tat the outer end .of the casing and are heldthereby from irregular displacement, the levers fulcruming Vupon these flanges 24- and thereby being caused to swing so that their outer ends swing down into normal engagement 4with the ends of the side wedges and the inner ends of the levers together with the follower, are returned to normal open position projecting outwardly from the open end of the casing, the flanges 24 servingthe twofold purpose of preventing complete and disrupting travel of the levers out of the casing and auton'iatically causing. the levers to regain their operative engagement with the side wedges.,

smoothly dissociated from mediately the pressure is removed as thek floating wedge men'ibersk become inactive at' that time in so far as their wedging function is concerned and consequently the meinybers are free to permit substantially an instantaneous release and return to normal position by the expansion of the spring as positive resistance between the parts such as i the same as in spring Vusually to make them stick, is absent.

During pulling stresses the action will be buifing with the distinction that the follower will remain stationary while the yoke will move the casing forward, the levers swingingin the same manner as above described with the same action upon the mechanism.

lThe hereinbefore mentioned restriction in the space available for a draft rigging equipment precludes the use of a single spring of adequate dimensions and consequently the ,employed is of inadequate power, being overworked and of insuthcient power to return the gear to normal position against active friction vand without sticking. This defect is eliminated in the present construction by the absence of active friction as above described whereby the likelihood of sticking retardation in'y releasing the geark .even with inadequate springv equipment, is

eliminated. However in order to provide within the prescribed limitations spring can be calculated to be take care of the accepted stresses without over strain, l have supplenien'ted the spring 9 by a second coiled spring which for economy in space is of smaller diameter than spring 9 for location within the latter and bea-rs between the inner closed end of the casing it and the web ll of the central friction member. inasmuch as the deiection of the smaller diameter spring is less than that of spring 9 l have compensated for this discrepancy by increasing the equipment whichfully adequate to number of coils of the smaller inner spring with respect to the'larger enter spring `9, the web ll being centrally recessed at 36 to accommodate the longer inner spring. By this arrangementnof a coiled spring enclosing a second coiled spring a compact space .economizing equipmentis secured and the provision of a. longer inner spring approaches equalization of the springs thus ensuring an augnfientedv spring equipment within a givenspace without likelihood of the spring of smallerv diameter being over stressedv as would occur were the' inner spring of the saine length as the outer spring.

vIt will be noted that the operative elements of the above described draft rigging are the same at each side of the longitudinal total dee'ction `of bothv centre line of the gear, that is, either lever 7 -or 22 (2o-operates with its associated wedge @which is intermediate its co-operating casing wall and friction plate L5, to produce the combinedA lever and wedge action described.

yLugs 3st carried by the casing support and guide the friction plates upon their inner side to constitute bearings for the plates, sustaining the inward stresses towhich the plates are subjected and guiding the latter in direct longitudinal travel. Each friction plate is flanked upon its'inner side by two of the lugs 34, the top and bottom walls of the casing presenting at each side of thelongitudinal centre line a pair ofthese lugs which extend longitudinally in close contact with the top and bottom margins of veach friction plate to support saine against inwardstresses vand positivelyv guide the friction plates durf ing` their longitudinal travel by preventing lateral shifting or rocking thusV making the frictional contact lbetween the friction and wedge members positive at `all times.

The presence of the lugs 34 upon the inner y side of the friction plateslocalizes the wedge reaction. of each wedge'ineinber 6 lbetween the side lof the casing and the lugsadjacent thereto, thatfis to say the reaction to the outward stress of the wedgemembcr upon one side of the casing is supported by the lugs adjacent to such side and is not transferred to the other side of the casing owing tothe immovability of the lugs, the reaction set up by the wedge member thus being confined to one side of the longitudinal centre line of the casing. rlhe result is that neither side of the casing is exposed to the reaction of the stress set up by the wedge mechanism at the oppor site side as has been the case in prior constructions wherein transverse movement of the friction members was solely limited byk the wedge members and consequently the reaction vtothe wedge member at one side of the casing has heretofore been transferred to the opposite side whereby stress developed at one side has been augmented by the stress 'developed'at the opposite side andthe casing thereby exposed to disruptive forces of such .degreel that only impracticably thickened walls could withstand them.

V,The described arrangement with the supporting lugs 34 isolates the wedging absorption effected at opposite sides ot' the rigging andv thus produces a dual wedge action independently active aty opposite sides of the rigging. The lever at either side is not` dependent upon the lever at the other side for the production of the wedge action `and consequently should the lever action .lag at one side due to slight more or less unavoidable discrepancies in size or formor due to angular force upon the coupler when cars are out of line7 lthe rigging will continue to function "with requisite eifectiveness, independent wedgefabsorption of the stresses being ef- Ll O a frictionmember, a wedge in engagement With the casing and the friction member, a lever for causing relative motion between the wedge and friction member, means supplemental to and immovable with respect to the casing wall for guiding the friction member and means for resisting motion of the parts and returning them to expanded condition after compression.

2. In a draft rigging adapted to be compressed for absorbing bui'ling' and pulling stresses, the combination with a casing, of a friction member, a Wedge in engagement with the casing and the friction member, a

lever for causing relative motion between the wedge and friction member, means supplemental to and in'imovable with respect to the casing wall for guiding the wedge and means for resisting motion of the parts and returning them to expanded condition after compression.

3. In a draft rigging adapted to be compressed for absorbing buihng and pulling stresses, the combination with a casing, of a friction member, a wedge in engagement with thecasing and the friction member, a lever for causing relative movement between the wedge and friction member, means supplemental to and immovable with respect to the casing wall for centering the wedge and friction member and means for resisting motion of the-parts and returning them to expanded condition after compression.

t. In a draft rigging adapted to be com pressed for absorbing ybaiting and pulling stresses, the combination with a casing, of a friction member, a wedge in engagement with the casing and the friction member, a lever fulcrumed within the casing and adapted to cause relative motion between the wedge and rfriction member, means to keep the fulcrum cud of the lever within the casing and means for resisting motion of the parts and returning them to expanded conu dition after compression.

5. In a draft rigging aiilapted to be compressed for absorbing buiiing and pulling stresses, the combination with a casing, or wedge mechanism, a co-operating lever for acting' upon the wedge mechanism during compression, the wedge mechanism providinga fulcrum bearing for the lever during compression andthe casing providing a fulcrum bearing for the lever during the release of the rigging and means Vfor resistingmotion of the parts and returning them to expanded condition after compression.

6. In a draft rigging adapted to be comi pressed for absorbing bul'ing and pulling stresses, the combination with a casing, of wedge mechanism, a co-operating lever for acting upon the wedge mechanism, one end of the lever being disposed between fulcrum bearings therefor disposed transversely of the longitudinal line of travel of therigging and respectively carried by the casing and the wedge mechanism and means for| resisting motion of the parts and returning them to expanded condition after compression and means for holding the parts in assembled operative position.

7. A draft rigging adapted to absorb compressive strains due to bulfing and pulling and including means for resisting the kmotion ofthe parts of the rigging and returning them to expanded condition after compression, a casing, a loosely mounted lever,

means presenting a fulcrum bearing for one end of the lever during compression, a proiection on the casing and disposed in the path of withdrawal of the fulcrum end of the lever from said fulcrumbearing and means for holding the parts of the rigging in assembled operative position.

8. In a draft rigging, the combination with a casing and mechanism for absorbing compressive buffing and pulling'stresses, of a lever for transmitting the stresses to the absorbing mechanism, the absorbing mechanism presenting a fulcrum bearing for one end of the lever during the absorption of the stresses and the casing presenting a fulcrum bearing for the same end ofthe lever during releasing action of the rigging' and means for resisting motion of the parts and returning them to expanded conditionl after compression.

9. In a. draft rigging adaptedto be compressed forV absorbing buting and pulling stresses, the combination with a follower and wedge mechanism comprising a` wedge member and a. friction member, of a loosely mounted lever for transmitting stresses to the wedge mechanism, said lever bearing at one end upon the friction member and loosely fulcrumed at its opposite end upon the wedge member, means disposed at thelopposite side of the lever to the wedge member for guiding the lever and preventing displacement thereof, and means-for resisting lmotion of the parts and returning them to expanded condition after compression.

l0. In a draft rigging adapted to be compressed for absorbing butfing and pulling stresses, the combination with a casing, a follower and wedge mechanism comprising a wedge member and av friction member and areas of the casing, a friction member bew tween the wedge members and comprising plates side by side with and in frictional relation with the inner opposing surfaces of the wedge members and a joining` web adjacent the open end bf'the casing, supporting projections upon the casing in supporting relation to theinner surfaces of said plates, a` spring bearing between the closed end of the casing and the joining web of the friction member, a follower adjacent the open end of the casing and levers, each lever having a fulcrum bearing upon one end of the wedge members andeatending inwardly therefrom between the follower and the friction member, one surface ofeach lever bearing upon the friction member and theopposite surface bearing upon the follower.

18. n a car, the combination with longitudinally spaced draft lugs, of a casing disposed between the draft lugs and having` one open end, opposite interior surfaces of the `casing presenting areas inclined inwardly away from the open end of the casing, inturned projections at the open end of the casing, wedge members fioatably mounted within the casing and jnesenling areas opposed to and inclined correspondingly to the inclined areas of the casing, a friction inember between the wedge menibersl and comprising plates side by side with and in fricytionalrelation with the innerI opposing sur faces of the wedge members and a joining web adjacent the open end of the casing,

supporting projections upon the casingI in supportingrelation to the inner surfaces of said plates, a spring bearing between the closed end of the casing and the joining web of the friction member, a follower adjacent the open end of the casing` and levers, each lever having a fulcrum bearing upon one of the wedge members and extending in- `wardly therefrom between the follower and the friction member, one surface of each lever bea-ring upon the friction member and the opposite surface bearing upon the follower, the fulorum ends of the levers being rounded and disposed between the wedge members and the inturned projections at the open end of the casing.

l5). In a car, the combination withl longitudinally spaced draft lugs, of a casing disposed between the draft lugs and having one end open, opposite interior surfaces of the casing presenting areas inclined inwardly away from the open end of the casing, wedge members floatably mounted within the casing and presenting areas opposed to and inclined correspondingly to the inclined areas of the casing, a friction memberbetween the wedge members andcomprising plates side byside with and in frictional relation withthe inner opposing surfaces ofthe wedge members and a joining web adjacent the open end of the casing, supporting projections uponthe casing in supporting relation to theinner surfaces of said plates, a spring bearing between theclosed end of the casing and the joining web of the friction member, afollower adjacent the open end ofthe casing and presenting curved recesses opposed to the friction member, and levers, eachilever having a fulcrum bearing upon one of the wedge members andV extending inwardly therefrom between the follower and the friction member, one surface having a shifting bearing upon the friction member andthe opposite surface being conveXly curved and located in one of the recessesof the follower, the curvature of the last mentioned lever surfaces being described on smaller 'radii than that of the curvature of the recesses.

In testimony whereof, I have signedmy name to this specification, this 80th day of October, 1923.

W INFIELD HANCOCK YOST. 

